AC Milan 0-0 Juventus
There were chances galore for both sides in this exciting game at San Siro, but ultimately no goals as Milan and Juventus were forced to settle for a goalless draw...
First Half
Juventus came out of the blocks on fire, immediately putting Milan on the back foot.
They had their first chance five minutes in as Christian Molinaro found Vincenzo Iaquinta, who chested it down for David Trezeguet, but the Frenchman fired inches wide.
He had another chance in the 11th minute, turning superbly before beating Dida, only to be denied by the post.
Having been handed a couple of early reprieves, Milan began to settle down, but Juve had been sent out with clear instructions to blank Kaka out of the game, and did just that.
Seedorf was also largely absent at the start of the game, meaning that Milan's attack lacked bite. Gilardino came close with a long range effort after being picked out by Serginho, but Buffon had it covered.
At the other end, Nedved tried to split Nesta and Oddo and fell to the ground but the referee had none of it and waved play on. Kaka was caught offside as he tried to sneak behind the Juventus defence on the break.
Milan grew into the game in the final ten minuted of the half, but once again failed to fashion clear cut chances despite Pirlo and Seedorf each testing Buffon from long range.
Second Half
Juventus started the second half much like the first, immediately putting Milan on the back foot again.
A fabulous run up the right from Salihamidzic saw him set up Trezeguet, who let rip a cracking effort that Dida palmed away. Nadved came charging in for the rebound, but Oddo put in a brilliantly timed tackle to deny him.
Dida was down clutching his shoulder, but recovered to continue after two minutes.
There was immediately a chance at the other end as Kaka had an acrobatic effort from eight yards out parried by Buffon. Gilardino latched onto the rebound and sent it into the back of the net, but the flag was up for offside. Replays showed the striker to be about a yard off.
It was end to end stuff, with both teams going for it, and Juve had the next big chance when Serginho brought down Nedved inches outside the box. With no Del Piero, it was duly wasted.
Almost on cue, Chiellini fouled Kaka at the other end. Pirlo stepped up and fired on target, but an alert Buffon was up to the task.
Both teams were looking for the winner, and the game was stretched. The likes of 'Pippo' Inzaghi, Alessandro Del Piero and Raffaele Palladino were thrown in to mix it up.
Inzaghi ran onto Serginho's cross to shoot, but once again, Gigi was up to the task. As the game wound down, Maldini came ever so close with a late effort.
Milan were once again finishing the half as the stronger of the two sides, and Inzaghi had a shot saved by Buffon in injury time. The flag had gone up, anyway.
This late Rossoneri push would come to nothing, though, as the referee blew for full time and both teams were forced to share the spoils.
It was an exciting game that deserved goals and winners. Juventus had the better of the chances overall, but the draw was by and large fair.
www.goal.com - 01/12/2007 22:28
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